Ye olde notebook:
n It's always fun to keep an eye on college football recruiting.
It sounds like WVU, for instance, made a couple nice pickups of late, landing commitments from 5-foot-9 receiver Michael Harley (who chose the Mountaineers over Miami and Michigan) and 6-4, 280-pound offensive lineman Cody Bowes (who chose WVU over Tennessee, North Carolina and Pitt). According to 247 Sports, West Virginia now has the No. 53 class for 2017 (as of 6 p.m . Thursday, with nine commitments) after finishing No. 40 in 2016.
It's very early, of course. Also, WVU's above rankings don't take into consideration guys like Florida quarterback transfer Will Grier, set for 2017.
But have you noticed what else has gone on within the Big 12?
Specifically, have you noticed one program's misfortune (Baylor) is another program's (Texas) treasure?
Well, it's true. Texas coach Charlie Strong and his staff scooped up four of BU's top 2016 recruits, and it just might change the balance of the Big 12.
When Baylor released recruits asking out of their letters of intent, Texas signed ESPN Top 300 lineman J.P. Urquidez.
And four-star wideout Devin Duvernay. And his three-star twin, Donovan.
Strong capped the effort by taking in elite offensive lineman Patrick Hudson, 6-6, 330 pounds. It was the third four-star offensive tackle signed by the coach.
In the 247 Sports team rankings for 2016, Texas zoomed to No. 7 nationally. Oh, and remember, the Longhorns won just five games last season.
n While on the subject of Baylor's scandal, I jumped on the Big 12 basketball teleconference call on Wednesday. (Why the league held a basketball teleconference call in late June is beyond me, but what the heck, right?)
When Baylor hoops coach Scott Drew got on the line, no one, shockingly, asked him about his school's mess. Finally, though, I squeezed in a question.
"Obviously, everyone has been hurt and is disappointed," Drew responded. "We know what a great place Baylor is. We know how we all work to make it a great time for our students and athletes while they are at Baylor University. Each and every day we ask our players to improve. That's what we want to do as a university - continue to improve."
Yes, he said, recruiting has been affected.
"We've had a few recruits ask about it," Drew said. "It's enabled us to talk about Baylor University and explain what measures our university is taking and what goals we're taking to make it one of the safest campuses in America. We all take great pride in working here at Baylor, what Baylor stands for and the mission we have. We want to provide a good, safe environment, and when that doesn't happen we're all disappointed."
n You might remember the Mountain East Conference was supposed to huddle with Charleston officials about possibly keeping the league's basketball tournament at the Civic Center. The MEC has a contract "out" if it wishes to try another city.
Well, MEC commissioner Reid Amos replied to a query on that.
"The MEC offered to delay the next step in our discussions [slated for late last week] to allow Charleston officials to concentrate on issues associated with flooding," Amos texted. "No timetable for our next discussions [has been set] at this point."
n It was sad to see Dr. Elias Haikal passed away this week. I met him when he owned Scarlet Oaks Country Club in Poca.
I'll never forget Dr. Haikal's disappointment when a TearDrop Tour golf event fell through at what was then his course. A 1999 summer drought scorched the layout, but a Golf Channel truck was in place and the $100,000 event was set to begin.
Until, that is, Tour officials showed up in Poca, took a long look at the fairways, folded the proverbial tents and went home. Haikal insisted he'd begged those same officials to inspect the course before all the production began. They did not.
Rest in peace, Doc.
n The Gazette-Mail has been one of numerous businesses helping with the state's flood relief efforts. A call from sports personality Tony Caridi informed me West Virginia Radio has established a gofundme.com account to help high schools (through the SSAC) that need to replace athletic and band, etc., uniforms. ("The whole concept is to suit them back up," he said.)
Also, it was heartwarming to hear PGA golfer Bubba Watson is donating a whopping $250,000. And how can you do anything but admire Glen Dale native and country star Brad Paisley? Not only did he donate and start a gofundme.com account that was over $310,000 (with a $1 million target) in one day, he flew in to help. That's terrific.
Let's keep it going, folks.
n Keep an eye on ex-Marshall hoops standout Hassan Whiteside.
He's now an NBA free agent ready to get seriously, seriously paid. That's what happens when you average 14.2 points, 11.8 rebounds and 3.7 blocks - and when there's a huge jump in the league's salary cap.
Midnight Thursday night began the free agency period and, according to most, Whiteside is one of the top 10 free agents. One ranking, in fact, had him above Dwight Howard, Dwyane Wade and Dirk Nowitzki. As I've been saying, the rise of Whiteside is a hell of a story.
n And finally ...
In Wednesday's paper, I wrote of Pat Summitt, who tragically passed away at age 64, and her connection to Charleston.
Well, after the column was cut loose, Charleston native Alexis Hornbuckle tweeted her response to the passing. Hornbuckle, of course, played for Summitt at Tennessee.
"Coach, I will miss you so much," Hornbuckle wrote. "I can honestly say even though you try and prepare yourself for the loss of a loved one, you never really can.
"Pat Summitt was more than a coach. She was a mother figure, a mentor, a friend and a teacher. Coach prepared us for more than the opponents we'd face. She made sure we had the tools necessary to succeed in life."
Nicely said, Alexis.
Contact Mitch Vingle at 304-348-4927 or mitchvingle@wvgazettemail.com. Follow him on Twitter @MitchVingle.